Wood has been a very common material used in flooring for centuries. While once it was probably the most easily accessible material to use in building homes, it eventually became a symbol of class. When hardwood flooring was first used in the 1600s, it was so expensive that only the wealthiest of people could afford it. Over time it became a more common choice for home décor, and it is now one of the most popular choices for homeowners – a trend that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.

1. Value trumps price

While wood floors are still one of the pricier choices a homeowner can make for flooring, the price is set as such for a reason. Although they are pricier, wood floors are also one of the longest lasting flooring decisions due to their ability to be refurbished. There are also different densities. Harder woods are more resistant to chips, gauges, and damage caused by pets, children, or hard wear-and-tear.

Wood floors can easily last multiple decades, especially if they are properly cared for, cleaned consistently, and are upkept. In doing the math on how much it would cost to do wood floors once versus having to redo another type of flooring multiple times, wood floors win every time.

2. Endless selection

Homeowners have a multitude of choices when deciding on the wood flooring to install in their homes. First, they must choose the type of wood. Wood floors can be made out of virtually any wood, so based on the look and hardness, homeowners have to make a decision. On the soft end of the Janka scale – the scale used to measure the wood’s hardness – are Douglas Fir, Black Cherry, and Teak.

On the hard end are Santos Mahogany, Mesquite and Brazilian Walnut. But in between those two extremes there are more than a dozen other options to choose from.

3. Unique

Each and every wood floor is unique, because the texture and swirls in the wood are never the same, just like a fingerprint. However, there are other things homeowners can do to make their wood floors even more unique. First, they can choose to stain the wood. This is not mandatory, as the floor will still be sealed so if homeowners prefer, they can keep the wood’s original colour.

The stain can be light or dark, and there are many different shades to choose from. As well, homeowners can choose to arrange the wood pieces in interesting designs. A very popular design right now is herringbone, but there are many different designs to choose from.

4. Easy care

Caring for wood floors is an important part of keeping them for decades, however it is not a difficult task. Wood floors must be vacuumed weekly, and kept dry. They should also be mopped every once in a while, but without very much water or liquid. Wood floors do not collect a lot of dust, dirt, or hair, like carpet does, and they are easy to wash if they do get anything spilled on them.

When they do start to age, it isn’t very difficult to sand them down and re-stain them, making them look brand new again.

5. Matches anything

Whatever motif you are aiming for in your home, one guarantee is that the wood flooring will never clash. Wood flooring accents any décor choice, whether it be classic, rustic, or modern. The natural wood and neutral colours allow it to blend into any home, and perfectly accent any look. And, should homeowners wish to completely change their home décor at any time, whether it be in two years or 10 years, the wood floors will likely still be a perfect fit.